AMA Issues Statement on FAA Reauthorization: A “New Chapter” for the Organization

The AMA is putting the best face possible on the recently passed FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics was vocal in their opposition to the section of the Act which repealed Section 336, which provided protections from new regulation for recreational flyers. While the AMA has worked hard to educate and promote safety for the hobby, recreational flyers have often been blamed for incidents between drones and manned aircraft: prompting manufacturers and commercial operators to take a stance on applying drone laws to all drone operators, regardless of the purpose.

FAA Reauthorization passed last week, including the repeal of Section 336. The Act also defines a “CBO” or Community Based Organization, and grants CBOs a role in regulating and ensuring the safety of recreational flyers. It’s this aspect that the AMA has focused on in their pragmatic and diplomatic response to the Act.

The following is the AMA statement from Chad Budreau, interim Executive Director of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), the world’s largest community-based organization whose members fly model aircraft for recreational and educational purposes.

“The passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 marks a new chapter in our organization’s history, and one that has many positive benefits. For the first time ever, AMA stands to gain official recognition as a community-based organization. Meanwhile, as a community, we now have an even larger role to play in lending our decades of expertise to the FAA, helping to educate the broader recreational community and working together with the FAA to promote and enhance safety.

“AMA’s leadership met with the FAA’s leadership in Washington this week, and we are encouraged by the positive tone of the dialogue. The FAA recognizes AMA’s commitment to safety and has already initiated steps to lean on our institutional knowledge and work collaboratively, ensuring that our hobby can continue to thrive for generations to come.

“We look forward to working together in this new chapter as we address issues related to the hobby.”

Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.Email Miriam
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker